“The opportunity is there for a different image of Texas than perhaps the boots and spurs tradition,” said Geoffrey Skelley, political analyst at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. “With more national knowledge of political figures like Cruz and Castro, that’s likely to change more.” …

While at the Democratic National Convention, Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza spoke with San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro about Latino voters and the possibility of Castro being the first Latino president. …

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and Republican Senate nominee Ted Cruz both energized their parties’ national conventions with impassioned stories of the family’s immigrant experience and only-in-America success.

But despite their similar tales of faith and triumph, the liberal Democrat from South Texas and the conservative Republican from Houston expressed starkly different views of the role of government in protecting personal freedom and building economic success.

“If I was named Rafael Cruz, I would be proud to use that name. This guy has denied his own Hispanic heritage, if he is a Hispanic,” the Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party told WFAA-TV, Channel 8, claiming that Ted Cruz’s Hispanic heritage is one of convenience.

A PAC dedicated to Latino voters also took issue with Cruz being defined as Latino candidate.

Perry seemed to be everywhere. He was honored as a “pro-life hero” by anti-abortion leaders and a “Hero of the American Entrepreneur” by small business groups. He attended events with Ohio, Alabama and Tennessee delegations, helped the Republican Governors’ Association and the Texas Republican Party raise money, and sought out Republicans from South Carolina, Iowa, Tennessee and Louisiana to thank them for aiding his presidential effort.

He chatted with conservative bloggers and ambled down “radio row,” gave interviews to right-leaning talk radio hosts including former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, and was a repeat visitor to Fox News. His aggressive social media presence was underscored by a “Google Hangout” Thursday evening with Texas GOP chairman Steve Munisteri.